act
n. countable B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈækt// UK //ˈækt// act
n. a law that a government or parliament has passed. It can also mean a single thing that someone does.
n. a formal decision or law passed by a legislative body. It may also refer to a single deed or action performed by an individual.
The government passed a new act to protect the environment.
Under the new act, small businesses receive a tax break for hiring local graduates.
The legislative act was designed to consolidate various existing regulations into a single, coherent framework for national security.
Usage
When referring to a specific law, it is usually capitalized as a proper noun (e.g., the Clean Air Act).